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> Artist: Alias III
> Title: 'Street Aid'
> Label: Young Guys
> Year: 1986
In the spirit of making the most of the Christmas break and extending it for as long as possible, I thought I'd pull out a festive record of sorts. However the record in question follows a wholly different approach to favourites such as 'Santa's Beatbox' and 'Christmas In Hollis', instead opting for the mode admirably set in motion by Bob Geldof and the various Band Aid guises. While the pop world had made its statement in 1984, exposing the plight of starving millions across the world, it didn't take long for B Boys in the Bronx to create a new angle, aptly named 'Street Aid'. This record is of course a world apart from the efforts of Dizzee Rascal as part of Band Aid 20. In fact (and I am biased of course!) rather unusually, Alias III manage to coat this ubiquitous message with a genuinely good piece of hip hop.
I can clearly remember my first encounter with the record in question. I was sat next to my old Bush Music Centre recording Mike Allen on a Friday or Saturday night just before Christmas of 1985-86, as Masquerade's One Nation Def Mix blended into the hum of traffic.
"Extra, extra, read all about it, over 10 million homeless and starving children all over the world..." announces the narrator, setting the scene before Bandit, Disco Kid and Born Unique begin painting pictures of the desperation faced by millions. Musically this is a solid, fairly typical late '85 production, combining DJ Dice's scratches with drum machines punctuated by layers of synth. Released on Bobby Youngblood's Young Guys imprint, Street Aid followed in the footsteps of earlier releases such as Sabotage And The Masterplan's 'You Should be So Grateful' which in many ways, covered the same topics minus the fundraising element. Although it is not clear what percentage of profits raised would become donations and to which causes they would go, the press release carried the following message:
"This record is to raise funds for starving children and to build homes for people in need all over the world. Your support in programming this record would be highly appreciated. Proceeds will be distributed to charitable organizations."
Bobby Youngblood, who was responsible for coordinating the project (and I suppose in a way the hip hop version of Mr Geldof minus the publicity!), had co-produced previous releases on the label but in this case was involved in writing the lyrics. Of course he brought a fair degree of pedigree to the venture, given his previous involvement with the legendary Kenton Nix, producer of disco classics like Taana Gardner's Heartbeat. In fact, the two had recorded together as Kenix on the West End label back in 1980. However this release, dated 1985-86, would be Bobby's penultimate vinyl outing, his final record on the same label seeing him return to his disco/soul roots.
So, if like me, you are stuffing yourself silly over the next week or so before New Year's Resolutions take effect, heed the words of the Disco Kid:
"...lay off the Big Macs, the regular fries, large Coca-Cola's and apple pies..." and have a healthy, happy New Year.
> Reviewed by: Dudley J
> Title: 'Street Aid'
> Label: Young Guys
> Year: 1986
In the spirit of making the most of the Christmas break and extending it for as long as possible, I thought I'd pull out a festive record of sorts. However the record in question follows a wholly different approach to favourites such as 'Santa's Beatbox' and 'Christmas In Hollis', instead opting for the mode admirably set in motion by Bob Geldof and the various Band Aid guises. While the pop world had made its statement in 1984, exposing the plight of starving millions across the world, it didn't take long for B Boys in the Bronx to create a new angle, aptly named 'Street Aid'. This record is of course a world apart from the efforts of Dizzee Rascal as part of Band Aid 20. In fact (and I am biased of course!) rather unusually, Alias III manage to coat this ubiquitous message with a genuinely good piece of hip hop.
I can clearly remember my first encounter with the record in question. I was sat next to my old Bush Music Centre recording Mike Allen on a Friday or Saturday night just before Christmas of 1985-86, as Masquerade's One Nation Def Mix blended into the hum of traffic.
"Extra, extra, read all about it, over 10 million homeless and starving children all over the world..." announces the narrator, setting the scene before Bandit, Disco Kid and Born Unique begin painting pictures of the desperation faced by millions. Musically this is a solid, fairly typical late '85 production, combining DJ Dice's scratches with drum machines punctuated by layers of synth. Released on Bobby Youngblood's Young Guys imprint, Street Aid followed in the footsteps of earlier releases such as Sabotage And The Masterplan's 'You Should be So Grateful' which in many ways, covered the same topics minus the fundraising element. Although it is not clear what percentage of profits raised would become donations and to which causes they would go, the press release carried the following message:
"This record is to raise funds for starving children and to build homes for people in need all over the world. Your support in programming this record would be highly appreciated. Proceeds will be distributed to charitable organizations."
Bobby Youngblood, who was responsible for coordinating the project (and I suppose in a way the hip hop version of Mr Geldof minus the publicity!), had co-produced previous releases on the label but in this case was involved in writing the lyrics. Of course he brought a fair degree of pedigree to the venture, given his previous involvement with the legendary Kenton Nix, producer of disco classics like Taana Gardner's Heartbeat. In fact, the two had recorded together as Kenix on the West End label back in 1980. However this release, dated 1985-86, would be Bobby's penultimate vinyl outing, his final record on the same label seeing him return to his disco/soul roots.
So, if like me, you are stuffing yourself silly over the next week or so before New Year's Resolutions take effect, heed the words of the Disco Kid:
"...lay off the Big Macs, the regular fries, large Coca-Cola's and apple pies..." and have a healthy, happy New Year.
> Reviewed by: Dudley J
